Auto tail-lamp signal.



G. F. WAKEFIELD.

AUTO TAIL LAI/IP SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 27, 1915. :I ggb A Patented Dec. 26,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR VITNESSES:

Arromnns 6.1". WKEFEL.

AUTO TAH. LAMP SIGNAL.

APPLICATIQN FILED DEC-.27,1915

Patented Deo. 26,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET WITNES SES:

Amornmys vuseful improvements in signaling apparatus, and is 'GEORGE F. WAKEFELD, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFUiR-NI.

AUTO TAIL-LAMP SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters'atent.

latented Dec, @'33, 1%.@

Application tiled December27, 1915. Serial No. 68,716.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that LGEORGE F. W'Axnrmnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Jose, in the county of Santa Clara and State of California, have invented new and Auto rFail Lamp Signals, ci which the following is a specilication. i

My invention relates to improvements in especially designed to be applied to the rear end of automobiles and like vehicles for the purpose of indicating to following vehicles the actions contemplated by the vehicle carrying the light. Thus it may show that the machine will turn to the right or to the left, or will stop.

The invention comprises an electrically driven mechanism, with signal shutters so attached as to loe operated thereby to indicate the actions of the vehicle.

It also comprises details of construction which will hey more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which# i Figure 1 is a top plan view of the mechanism. Fig. 2 is a rear View of the same. Fig. 8 is a view oi the signal hell in the lamp case. i'

As shownin the drawings, 44 represents an outside metal case having apertures 45, 46, 4f?, 48, 49 and 62 for glass lights, of

' which 47, 49 and 62 may be of clear glass, 45

of red and 46 and 48 of either clear or light colored glass, and the latter may be, if desired, of dissimilar color.

ln Fig. 1 is shown a compound electric motor, in which there are two separate armatures with their commutatore attached to two separate and independent axles, but having only one magnetic field common to both and more particularly described as follows: 2 is an armature with its commutator 6, and brushes 7 and 8 attached to a solid axle 4 running in ball or other be xrings, as at 5 and 63. 3 i's asecond armature with itslcommu tator 17 'and brushes 18 and 19. It has current wires 20 and'21 leading one to a controlling device and the other to a magnetic field. rlhis second armature and commutator are attached to a hollow axle 14 turnahle in hearings 15 and 16. This axle has an inside diameter large enough to admit the rst-named axle 4, so that the latter may revolve within this outer axle and without any trictional interference. 'lfhus the two may counterpart 23.

revolveA in either direction or both may revolve in opposite directions at the sante le 1 is a magnetic lield oi sufficient length extend over armatures 2 and 3 t J be able to produce electromotii-*e ,torce either of said armatures or in both at e same time, as may he desired. is a conducting wire from the cattery or gea'ifeufato2-1d and thence to the controlling device. l tached to the axle 4 is a 'toothed wheel l@ meshing with a toothed wheel 23, on which is attached a signal axle Q4 running haan ings 25 and 26. lastened to the end thi ysignal axle is a thin sheet 27, metal or volves with it. The outside or visible :tace

of the shutter may he of any desired color so that 1t' can be readily seen through the opening 48 when thus exposed. 28 isa curved vmetal spring having one end fastened to the axle 24 and the other end to a clapper or striker 29, which, when the axle revolves,

will strike a hell 50'. Notches 57, 58 and 59 are cut out of the edges et the heil 'to allow the rays from the lamp 5l to pass through and out of the openings in the case44. thin sheet of metal 30 above the axle 24 for the purpose interrupting more or less of the rays froml the electric light 51 as they passtoward the side opening 49 when the axle is reveli'ingn counterweight 31 is attached .to the 'gear wheel 23 which will retain the signal shutters in their proper normal position and which, at night, would allow the rays `from the lamp 51 to he unobstructed when passing toward the side opening 49, same ing through the opening wheel 252 is attached to which wheel is in gear wit-,i l wheel 32 fastened to the axle 33, having approximately the saine diameterl as rthisv axle is le in suitable hearings, as 84 a counterweight attached to the wheel for the same purpose as the part 81 on wheel 61 is a shutter 'oi metal attached to the axle 33 for the same purpose as the shutter 8G upon the axle 24. Shutter 3S is attached'to shat 83 and is similar to shutter 8O and performs the same function on the right side as 30 does on the circ-oler igs or is attached to and notches 59 and 57 in the bell 50 have their center points below a horizontal line drawn through the center of the signal bell, so that the clappers, when`revolving, will not strike the bell on the lower edges but will strike it upon the upper edges 64 and 65.

rThe motor controller circuiits for controlling the shutter mechanisms operate as follows: The current flows-through the iield 11 always in the same direction. The current is switched through the commutator 6 to cause the armature 2 to turn in one direction to actuate the shutters 27 and 30 and the clapper 29 associated therewith. The current is switched through the commutator 17. to cause the armature 3 to turn in the other direction to actuate the shutters 36 and 61 and associated clapper 29. The current is` switched through both commutatorsl 6 andl simultaneously to turn both armatures 2 and 3 at once to actuate the shutters 27 and 30 and associated clapper 29` and the shutters 36 and 61 and associated clapper 29 at the same time.l

In order to give a visible indication to a person lbehind the vehicle of the direction of movement of the vehicle the operation will be as follows: When the conveyance is to turn to the left the closing of the current to the rear armature and magnetic field will cause the .armature 2 to revolve counterclockwise and with it its aXle 4 and connections, which causes the clapper 29 to strike the bell at lip and at the same time the shutter 30 will partially cut olf the rays of light 'passing through the opening 49 and` shutter 27 will open the aperture 48 and allow the rays from the lamp 51 to pass through, while at the same time it will partially close the central or red light opening 45. Ify the vehicle is -to turn to the right the circuit to armature 3 and the magnetic lield may be closed, thus causing the armature, with its axle 14 and attached gear wheel 22, to revolve clockwise and the gear wheel 32, with its attached bell clapper 29 and shutters, to revolve counter-clockwise. This will cause the right hand clapper 29 to strike lip 64, and at the same time shutter 61 will partially cut oil' the rays of light passing through opening47 and shutter ,36 will open aperture 46 and'permit rays from lamp 51 to pass through, while at the same time it will partially close the central or red opening 45. v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. In an automobile direction and like indicator, a closed case having an interior lamp and openings with glazing to expose the light, a motor having contiguous arma- -tures mounted upon concentrically journaled shafts, pinions upon the motor shafts, parallel shafts having gears, one of each engaging with one of the motor shaft pinions,

disks iXed upon said gear shafts and adapt-- audible signals in unison with the visiblev ones.

3. In afi automobile direction and like indicator, an inclosing. casing having a central colored tail light, and crescent shaped opaque disks fixed to parallel shaftsat opposite sides of the center, said disks being turnable to register with the central portion and `expose the crescent cut-away portions for the passage of light.

In an automobile direction and like indicator, an inclosing casing having a central colored tail light, crescent shaped opaque disks fixed to parallel shafts at opposite sides of the center, said disks being turnable to register with the central portion and expose the crescent cut-away portions for the passage of light, and means whereby the disks are returned to their normal positions when the power is cut off.

5. In an automobile tail light and direction indicator of the character described, a closed case having a central rear opening and colored tail light, parallel glazed openings upon either side, crescent shaped, opaque disks, shafts upon which said disks are mounted and revoluble so that either crescent may register with and obscure the exterior openings or be turned to expose said openings, an electric motor and gearing by which the disks may bel independently revolved, and weighted means to return the disks to their normal condition.

6. In an automobile signal, a lamp provided with a tail light opening, an opening for a light adapted to indicate one direction, and an opening for a light adapted to indicate another direction, said tail light opening being normally uncovered, said direction light openings being normally covered, means for uncovering each of said direction light openings to indicate the desired direction and for uncovering both of said direction light openings and covering said tail light opening to indicate another condition.

7. In an automobile signal, a lamp provided with an opening for a tail-light, an opening for a light indicating one direction, an opening for a light for indicating another direction, said tail light being normally uncovered, said direction light openings being normally covered, means for uncovering naiaoee each of said direction light openings to in dicate the desired direction, and for uncovering both of said direction light openings and covering said tail light opening to indicate another condition, a bell, and means for ringing said bell each time the signal is actuated.

8. In an automobile signal, a lamp pro- `vided with an opening for a tail light, an

opening for a light indicating one direction, an opening Jfor a light for indicating another direction, said tail light opening being normally uncovered, said directionlight openings being normally covered, means for uncovering eachof said direction light openings to indicate the desired direction, and 'for uncovering both of said direction light openings and covering said tail light opening to indicate another condition, additional side light openings and means for interrupt-- .ing a side light each time a direction light opening is uncovered. K

9. In an automobile signal, a lamp provided With an opening for a tail light, an opening for a light for indicating one direction, an opening for a light for indicating another direction', said tail light opening be ing normally uncovered, said direction light openings being normally covered, means for uncovering each of said direction light openings to indicate the Idesired direction, and for uncovering both of said direction light openings and covering said light tail opening to indicate another condition, additional side light openings, means Jfor interrupting a side light each time a direction light opening isy uncovered, and for interrupting both of said side lights when both of said direction light openings are uncovered.

10; In an automobile signal, a'lamp provided With an opening for a tail light, an opening for a light indicating one direction, an opening fora light for indicating another direction, said tail light opening being normally uncovered, said direction light opens ings being normally covered, means Jfor uncovering each of said direction light openings, and'covering said tail light opening to indicate another condition, and an electrical control for said signal.

1l. In an automobile signal, a lamp provided with an opening for a tail light, an opening for a light for 'indicating one divided with an opening for a tail light, an

opening for a light indicating one direction, an opening for indicating another direction, said tail light openings being normally uncovered, said direction light openings being normally covered, means for uncovering each of said light openings to indicate 'the desired direction, and for uncovering both of said direction light openings, and covering said tail light openings to indicate another condition, additional side light opening means for interrupting a side light each and an electrical control for the signal.

13. In an automobile signal, a lamp pro vided with a tail light opening, an opening for a light indicating one direction, an opening 'for a light indicating another direction, said tail light opening being normally uncovered, said direction light openings lbeing normally covered, means for uncovering e ,h of said direction light openings to indie the vdesired direction, and for uncovering both of said direction light openings and covering said tail light opening to indicate another condition, additional side light openings, means 'torpinterrupting a sid'e light each time a direction light opening is nncovered, and for interrupting both of said lights when both ot said direction light openings are uncovered, and an electrical control tor the signal,

time a direction light opening is uncovered,

In testimony whereof I have herenilto l my hand in the presence oit two subscribing witnesses.

lil@ 

